Once upon a time…
Are amongst the most magical words our world has ever known and the gateway into the greatest stories ever told. They’re a calling into a world where everyone is welcome and anything can happen.
Storybook Experiences
Welcomes children and families of all the land through the doors of the enchanted Storybook Studios. Together the Pitre’s, proud owners of a new experience in photography, Gregory and Kristen showcase their talent for creating imaginative fairy tale adventure. “This is a place where families come and imagine together” says Kristen. The walls with-in are for both adults and children, allowing guests to immerse themselves in a real life fairy tale. Here the older generations can recapture the nostalgia of days gone by, and younger generations can savor in the wonder as they come face-to-face with their fairy tale favorites. “It is where creativity and ingenuity open the minds of our children. The Pitre’s create wholesome, classic family entertainment while children can imagine and play. “ This becomes great opportunities for our photographers to capture a child in their true essence to create those cherished moments. We create beautiful timeless imagery.” Says Kristen. All sessions are by appointment, allowing the Storybook team to dedicate 100% of their time exclusively to that family. “ Their style of photography has hit home with thousands across the state. Clients come from all over the Country from all walks of life to have a Storybook Experience. “ We see children who are battling diseases, who can sit on Santa’s lap for the first time without fear of germs from over crowded malls during the holiday season. For those 30 minutes a child isn’t sick. They are able to transport into Santa’s world while parents look on and marvel in their child’s wonderment. “ says Kristen. “ These are the images I live to capture. It’s not just about taking an amazing photograph, it’s about capturing a tangible memory for that, ‘Once upon a time’ moment that you can never physically get back. Those are the images you’ll get here. These are the memories you will keep forever.” Says Kristen. Storybook prides themselves on working with children of ALL abilities, specializing in special needs photography. The studios are fitted with special constant lighting to help children with sensory sensitivities. “We have photographed children with cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, Downs’ Syndrome, sensory processing disorders, and all forms of autism.” Says Kristen. “Many times children on the spectrum are more difficult to direct than other children, and if you push too much, it is easy to hit a wall. However, because of Storybook’s uniqueness we are able to improvise and move with them. We allow the child to guide their own session with much success.”
Storybook Experiences outstanding storytelling and photography has enchanted, inspired and thrilled all audiences. Like Alice, Stepping Through the Looking Glass, to step through the portals of Storybook will be like entering another world. Every season brings a change of new sets and entertainment.
Their Story – Meet the creators:
Kristen and Gregory Pitre, married 10 years are the co-owners of Storybook. With grateful hearts, they share a beautiful life together with their two children Hudson 8 years-old , Ella 6 years-old and their puppy “Petey Pie”. Kristen is the acclaimed visionary behind all the projects at Storybook. Bridging her work as an educator and photographer or “storyteller”, she creates incredible tales and fantasy sets. Growing up, near by, in Baldwin, she had always had a vivid imagination. She spent endless hours enjoying her family’s acre property. She loved being outside and enjoyed nature to its fullest. She would draw in the dirt with twigs, build forts with branches, or ride her bike into a world of limitless possibilities. Playing outside with her younger sister holds some of her fondest childhood memories and also became the inspiration behind her Storybook Santa Experience. “Having a younger sister 7 years younger than me, come home from school crying because other children at school told her Santa was not real hurt like a knife through the heart.” She said. “I had to keep the MAGIC alive! I knew my softball coach had an extra suit from when he played Santa. I begged my dad to borrow it, throw on a sack and deliver a Christmas wish”. A Christmas wish that kept a little girl believing for another six years! “We awoke from the sound of bells. We ran downstairs to see if was truly him. And It was! He was REAL! We rushed back up stairs as to make sure we didn’t get caught peaking. In this moment the magic of childhood was alive and my door of possibilities had opened” explained Kristen. Einstein said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” Kristen strongly believes imaginative and creative play is how children experience the world. “Everyday, children experience the wonder and magic of the world around us. Why not capture those moments to fill our homes with beautiful, timeless imagery -create art to personalize our homes?” She explains.
“This entire business idea was born completely out of a dream I didn’t know could ever come to life. It’s truly only because my fiercely, brave and bold husband Greg, BELIEVED. He took my dream and turned it into reality. In 2012, I started a little photography business “Kristen Pitre Photography” and opened our home to clients. In 2014, I shared with my clients my first ever “Santa Experience” out of my home-based studio, turning our family dinning room into Santa’s workshop. Having huge support from my husband and family I developed and sharpened my style and skills, grew as a business owner, and gained much needed confidence in business and myself.
Today, Greg manages the business and marketing side of Storybook. With his one-of -a-kind, self taught business and marketings stratagies, he is a true entrepreneur by nature. Greg has had his share of successful small businesses. Including Tommy’s Village Pizzeria in which he purchased and managed at 25 years-old, and Unified Marketing solutions- an internet based business in which he helped countless businesses gain exposure and achieve visibility through organic search engine results. Greg’s skill set encompasses both the technical and creative elements of their business. His passion and drive is truly admirable.
In 2015, Greg, had been quite busy as well. “While still working his 9-5 job 6 days a week, he quietly worked at night on his computer while the rest of us were sleeping” Kristen states. They would soon discover how his passion for marketing complemented Kristen’s photography experiences, and together they would grow Kristen’s home-based-business. “He would stay up all hours of the night creating different marketing strategies and systems to increase the overall exposure of the business and all the while building relationships with my clients. At the time we opened bookings no one could have prepared us for the huge success we were about to have. It was a dream come true! The demand for our Santa experience was heartwarming. We welcomed so many families through our doors. We realized we created something special. But why did it have to end with Christmas? I wanted to keep the “magic of childhood alive” all year through. So I scribbled some plans on scratch paper and began designing and building Easter sets. Greg got to work doing what he did best and marketed the idea. It was an instant success. We sold out 400 sessions in under 12 minutes” Kristen Explained.
Greg was able to quit his full-time job and run what was to become Storybook Experiences. “We knew we had outgrown our home studio and needed something bigger” Says Greg. The Storybook Studio’s project started when Greg spotted an abandoned white building on the drive to drop his daughter off at preschool.
“Something inside kept telling me to go look at it,” he explains. “I turned around to go look at the little building. I parked the car and within five minutes of standing there I had a plan for the property, and all of a sudden I got a vision for our first location and knew our new studio would be in West Islip,” Greg explains.
Since opening just almost a year ago the Pitre family has transformed the little building into more than just a photography studio. With their larger than life toy soldiers, gigantic lollypops, and tree bark walls it’s become a destination in its own right. Families travel near and far to come for a visit to Storybook Experiences. California, Michigan, Florida, and Maine are just a few. Their sessions are in such demand that clients must book a year in advance to hold their appointment.
The Pitre’s announced in January that their business will be expanding to Nassau County. Together, they scouted many locations but narrowed the search by choosing two buildings in Rockville Centre. “There was something about the town that we knew would be a perfect fit for Storybook. It’s such a wholesome and quant village. With all the restaurants and shops, we just knew it would be the perfect place to bring our families to” says Kristen. The local neighbors seem to agree. As Greg worked on cleaning the property they purchased, curious residents question him. By conversations end, neighbors are thrilled to hear that the location will no longer be a liquor store and transform into a magical children’s photography studio.
As Kristen and Greg approach their one-year anniversary in their West Islip Location, they celebrate quietly together. The Pitre’s must turn their attention to their next project, bringing the magic of childhood to their second Storybook location in beautiful Rockville Centre.
