Author Archives: Joan Marie Photography

December 12, 2023

From Louisville, KY to NJ to dating photos!

As an online dating photographer I have the pleasure of meeting so many cool and interesting people from all over. Vincent contacted me about doing photos for his dating profile. He was coming from South Jersey and I always like to try and make the location mutually convenient, as much as I can. Also, I saw this as a great opportunity to check out a Cafe that I have been wanting to visit. My son’s friend told me about a place that her mom owns and it looked so damn cute! And the menu? OMG, mouth watering! It’s called Hatch 44 and it’s located about 20 minutes from me in Metuchen. The ONLY downside was that I had JUST went back on keto and it was torture looking at the delicious items on the tables around me! If you’re ever in the area you HAVE to check it out!

But back to my time with Vincent, or Vincenzo, as I was calling him by the end of our time together 😊. As a dating photographer, I have to say, sometimes I notice things AFTER the session while I am editing my Client’s dating photos. And one thing that I kept thinking as I was working on his gallery was that he reminds me of a young Christian Slater! For those of you who aren’t familiar with who that is, you should. Take a look here and let me know what you think!

Farm to Table

Vincent was a pleasure to hang out with and talk to. We talked about growing up in Kentucky, farms and animals and the differences between here and his “home”. And we also talked about our experiences skiing out west, something we both really enjoyed!

Our photography session was shortly after Thanksgiving and he had just gotten back from visiting with his mom. The way he spoke about her and her cooking was so sweet. His eyes lit up and you could just see the love he has for her. He told me about her home cooking and how delicious it is!

So as I mentioned, Vincent and I met up at the cafe and shared some conversation while we sipped coffee and hot chocolate. He even had an empanada that looked delicious, but…keto 😭 He was a joy to converse with and radiated positive energy and joy. He loves skiing, hiking and video games. One of his faves is Sonic, which I played ALL THE TIME when I was younger. Also, he is a genuinely nice and interesting guy. I’ll share a little bit about him here:

Do you have any hobbies?

Hiking, skiing, kayaking, camping, history, coding, gaming, anime.

What brings you joy?

Long days at the museum or in the mountains. Spending time with friends and family. Good food.

What is your ideal date?

A day hiking while swapping stories, followed by some fancy food, then video games or TV.

What are the 3 most important things you’re looking for in a partner?

Open mindedness
Energy
Common interests

Who is your hero and why?

It was my grandfather. Great academic and vocation success as doctor; successful marriage of nearly 60 years; involved with charity throughout life; amazing father and grandfather.

What is the one thing you can’t live without?

Cheese

Here are the photos that we created together! And Vincenzo, I hope you find the love that you so much deserve to have! And he’s not in a rush, he is patient and has no problem waiting for the right one to come along! He even took the time to leave me a 5 star google review 😊🫶🏻 Thanks, Vincent!!

The photoshoot!

Online Dating Profile Photographer

If you or someone you know is interested in my online dating profile photography, here you can find more information and fill out a contact form to get in touch!

December 10, 2023

You know you want it!

Are you curious about Boudoir, but maybe a little nervous? Have you thought about sexy pictures for that special someone, but just don’t know how to go about it? Looking for a very special gift for someone and just don’t know what to get them?

That’s where I come in. This January I will be offering a special Boudoir Mini Session, just in time for Valentine’s Day! Sessions are 20 minutes in length and include 5 digital files with the option to upgrade. These limited sessions will not only have you leaving with amazing pieces of ART, but they will leave you feeling empowered and sexy and floating on cloud nine!

So what are you waiting for??? Sign up for my email list to be the first to know when the dates are released! Even better, tell a friend and book sessions back to back and make a day of it! Hell, tell FIVE friends and we will have a BLAST routing each other on and reclaiming that sacred goddess within!

December 5, 2023

We had such a fun time this year at our Holiday Mini Sessions! This year’s backdrop for our family holiday photos was a rustic fireplace set with an exposed brick wall and wreath above the mantle. It made for the perfect backdrop for our Christmas set. And we even had our own little Santa show up for the shoot <3.

These sessions are quick 20 minute sessions and include a certain number of digital files. This year’s session included 5 retouched digital files. Families always have the option to add on additional files a la carte.

Oh the controversy!!

In the photography world, there is a lot of controversy around mini sessions LOL! Some people won’t do them at all. And I get it! It really depends on how you are running them and what you are including and the setups you are using. Doing it the “wrong” way can leave photographers burnt out, unappreciated and undervalued. And that’s not fun for anyone!

But mini family holiday photo sessions can be good for families who are looking for fun updated photos of their kids but may not want to have a full family session with print products. Some families DO want a full family session and create beautiful wall art for their home! The good news? I offer a little bit of both and something for everyone :). Oh and I already have next year’s backdrop ready to go! And omg it’s AWESOME!

You do you!

But hey, at the end of the day, we are all individuals and can make our own choices and run our businesses the way that makes the most sense for us. And right now I am really happy with the way I did things this year and I’m looking forward to doing more of the same! Hint, Hint…there will be more fun mini sessions coming up!!! Want to be the first to know? You can sign up for my mini session email list here 👇🏻

This year I also dedicated one of my mini session days to include dogs! And we had some really cute ones show up for their photos! I mean, do I have the best job or what???

November 23, 2023

A Studio Pet Portrait Session with Zena the Entlebucher Mountain Dog

Zena (with a “z”) Warrior Princess!

Zena’s mom and dad reached out to me wanting to get some printed portraits of their baby Zena. Although Zena isn’t a baby. I believe she is about 5 years old. But dang, she has some puppy energy!

I love that about photography. I can be photographing Newborns one day and then dogs the next! Have you seen my dog photos? No? Well, you can see more of them here.

Mountain Dogs

Zena is a Entlebucher Mountain Dog, a breed related to the Bernese Mountain dogs. If you know anything about Bernies, you know that they are BIG dogs! They’re awesome actually. And lately you may have seen some Bernese Mountain Dogs mixed with Poodles, yielding the Bernedoodle! These dogs are so beautiful and I especially love their coloring. You can see the relation between Zena and the Bernies by their coloring for sure! I took an adorable photo of my friend’s Bernedoodle, Dexter, a couple of years ago. Here he is after stopping by my neighbor’s place, Simply Groomed.

Say Cheese for your dog photos!

We took a ton of photos of Zena and in the end her mom and dad chose these 2 final images for their selections. And I have to say, I think they picked some good ones!

I don’t think it occurs to many people to have their dog photos done, but I love it! And they ARE a part of our family so why wouldn’t we want some portraits of them to hang around the home?

November 23, 2023

So many options!

One of my most favorite prop companies, Hello Little Props (HLP), is always coming up with amazing and unique ideas and designs to provide the Newborn Photography Community. A while back they came up with something called “bucket huggers” which are basically beautifully designed magnets with a variety of designs to put on their “everlasting bucket”. This is a game changer for us Newborn Photographers because it really is the answer to a lot of our “problems”. Especially the space saving problem.

Their newest design is an everlasting CRATE which also has this magnetic ability giving us even more variety when it comes to our prop options! Incase you don’t know, Newborn Photographers in general, are a very special breed. I keep saying that we need our own episode of “my strange addiction” 😂 . We are obsessed with fabrics, headbands, furry and textured layers, and probably the strangest thing we are obsessed with is looking at things and wondering if we can put a baby in it. LOL! I mean, if you were an outsider to this underground world of newborn photography, you would likely think we are absolutely nuts the way we carry on about these things! But, and this is a BIG BUT, our addiction is YOUR benefit! Because when you find one of us crazy prop addicted photographers, chances are we are going to go above and beyond to capture the most beautiful Newborn Photos of your little ones. Again, it’s all part of our addiction!

But what about that CRATE??

So back to the crate! I recently received mine and to say I’m obsessed is an understatement! It will take me some time to build up my collection of “huggers” for it, but it doesn’t matter. The crate itself is absolutely gorgeous and looks like an antique crate. Do I already own 2 or 3 crates? Maybe…but they aren’t magnetic and fit these freakin’ gorgeous magnet designs! So far I’ve gotten these huggers for it:

What about the BUCKET?

Well, I have A LOT of these already. But I recently got some more 😜. I’m not even sure if I have pictures of them. 2 new ones I got that I’m really excited about are a Football one and a Basketball one! OMG they are so cute. I don’t have a photo of the basketball one yet, but hopefully that will be coming soon! But here’s the football hugger:

Buckets in Use

I thought it might be cool for people to see a little bit of the huggers in use by me, so here are some samples:

Want to see more?

Check out my full collection of huggers here!

November 22, 2023

NJ Monthly | Award of Excellence

In 2021 my Dad sent me a link to a call for entries to the NJ Monthly and Unique Photo cover contest. He encouraged me to enter. The prizes were substantial and I love both the magazine and the camera store so if nothing else, my submission would be supporting both. So I did it. I entered one of my favorite drone shots. And low and behold I placed first in the aerial category! I won a DRONE! It was awesome and exciting and scary and all the things, but I did it. I put myself out there. I think that when you put yourself out there, you open up the Universe to new opportunities for growth and connection. And you may even give someone else the courage to do the same.

I also think it sends a really imortant message to my sons. It shows them bravery and courage and that their mom is a badass photographer who is making things happen not only for herself, but for them! It gives them a sense of pride and admiration. So do it, put your work out there! Here is the post from that awesome and exciting win for me.

Feelin’ the funk

I didn’t submit anything for 2022. Not sure why exactly, I guess I just didn’t feel compelled to. Maybe it’s because I have felt like I’ve been in a funk for like a year straight. Thinking back, 2022 was a REALLY difficult year for me and my family. My son was having a really hard time in the public school system which translates to me, his momma, ALSO having a very difficult time. It’s been heavy on our shoulders and in our hearts for YEARS. But this year we finally received an out of district placement and it has legitimately been life saving, life giving, for all of us. A completely different experience. He is seen and even APPRECIATED for the wonderful person that he is. Intelligent, kind, compassionate, full of RANDOM FACTS, artistic and not stigmatized, shamed and punished for the areas he lacks.

Getting our lives back…

I feel like I am getting my life back. And so I submitted one of my favorite images from November of last year to NJ Monthly Cover Photo Contest. Baby Ari being held up by her dad. This session was so special for Ari’s family but also for me. Because it showed me COMMUNITY. Something I have been missing. And that actually is very much in part to my son’s challenges. Am I being too vague? My son has ADHD, Anxiety and something called DMDD (Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder). I, myself, have Anxiety. Quite honestly I do believe I have been living with undiagnosed ADHD my entire life.

We have been ostrasized by our community because he is different. Imagine that? Labeling a child at the age of 6 as “bad” and making life even more challenging and lonely for us. Having that label follow him around all through elementary school. A child who has a hard enough time regulating his emotions. In school he was seen as the “bully” and yet children would purposely antagonize him and try to get him to a state of dysregualtion. Even the adults didn’t understand him or give him grace or compassion.

I’m clearly getting off topic, but it’s been a struggle. If someone you know has a child with these disorders, please reach out to them. Ask them if they are okay. See if you can be their community <3

So back to this session 😂

Raise them UP

Crystal and Lamar (Ari’s Parents) wanted to include their COMMUNITY in their photoshoot. Check out their shoot here. My heart exploded into a million pieces during their session. It was incredible how their community SHOWED UP last minute to be a part of this.

But this picture…Lamar wanted to do something like the Statue of Liberty and the Lion King (Ari means Lion). And as soon as he said it I was all in and it was this. It’s amazing. I love it. And I love it for all the reasons.

A man holding up his baby girl – this means so much to me. My dad was a huge supporter of me. He gave me the confidence to follow my dreams. He encouraged me to follow my heart and always believed in me. He was the first man in my life and was an amazing example of how I deserved to be loved and treated. The composition of this image I feel is extremely powerful as is the symbolism. You don’t need to see Lamar’s face in this. We know it is him. But we also know that it could be MANY men who are there, supporting their babies, raising them UP!

And my son(s) thankfully have men like this in their lives. Men who raise them up, lifting them high overhead, giving them the praise and confidence and SUPPORT that they need and that they deserve.

NJ Monthly Cover Search winners

Anyway, I know that this post kind of went off topic (thanks ADHD). But it’s my heart. And I am thankful, grateful and honored to have this image that we made TOGETHER be recognized by the judges, NJ Monthly and Unique Photo. I may not have received the placement on the Cover of this month’s magazine, but what I did receive is priceless. To see the winners and read more about it, hop on over to the NJ Monthly article here.

November 21, 2023

It was a model call

A little while ago I held a Newborn Model call to work on a new newborn photos posing flow option that I want to offer my Newborn Clients. This beautiful baby’s momma reached out to me and the rest is history. The history being that we had a difficult time getting through the workflow LOL! But I also had some new backdrops and props that I wanted to test out and photograph, and this little peanut was so cute that we kept going.

Eventually we were able to get some really great newborn photos and I’m so happy we did! I also really enjoyed hanging out with momma. It’s honestly one of the things I love most about this job. It’s more than a job. Sometimes I feel like it’s my lifeline to the outside world. I get to sit with women and hear their stories and share in experiences. It’s sacred. And I love it <3

Here are the shots momma chose from this beautiful Newborn Baby’s photoshoot <3

Show me some more baby photos!

If you’d like to see more of my Newborn Photo posts, you can check them out here!

November 16, 2023

Little Warrior!

What a special day having Ari back to The Studio for her Birthday Photos! This little beauty has come such a long way in her short little life (and so have her parents)!

Ari’s mom came to me looking for a photographer to take Newborn photos of her baby girl who I believe was already close to 3 months old. Alot of photographers won’t shoot a Newborn after they reach 2 weeks old. And there is nothing wrong with that. It isn’t personal. They just may not feel like they will be able to get those beautiful sleepy, cuddly, newborn shots after that small window.

I said YES for the Birthday Girl!

You see, Ari spent the first couple of months in the hospital because she was born early. Regardless, I will never turn down a newborn because of their age. I know that I can get at least some of those shots. I will set realistic expectations and then if it goes great, even better! You can see more of Ari’s newborn session here.

Ari’s mom had a Little Mermaid theme in mind for her Birthday Photos. And while I don’t normally do themed cake smashes (I like to keep it simple), I couldn’t say no! I mean…The Little Mermaid’s name is ARIEL!! ARI – ARIEL…get it?? It took me a minute but then I put it together LOL. So that’s what we did! But I include parent poses and birthday portraits in addition to the cake portion so we actually got alot of variety of this little peanut! And Ari’s parents got the most BEAUTIFUL velvet album to display them in. Something they will be able to look through with Ari for years and eventually be able to hand down to her. I am a SUCKER for beautiful albums!!

Here are some of the images we captured of Baby Ari with those big beautiful eyes <3

How can I book?

If you are interested in scheduling a cake smash or first birthday portraits, fill out the form on the bottom of this page.

November 15, 2023

The Early Bear gets the Worm?

Momma was still scheduling her baby photos when Little Baby Noah came earthside earlier than expected. And momma had an HOUR drive to the hospital! What a warrior! She made it just in time for this beautiful little guy to show up.

Mom liked the idea of using sage green for Noah’s session and what a great choice that was! The color was perfect for him! Oh, and did I mention his beautiful HAIR??? OMG, I die!!!!

It’s a Family Affair!

We started the session with family portraits and big brother Matteo was so sweet with his little brother. He wanted to make sure that he was safe and wanted to help in all the ways including holding the pacifier for lil’ bro. We ended up getting some really beautiful family portraits. But this photo….this one right here…it takes the cake! It has my whole heart! I love a good family portrait. But do you know what I love even more?? The IN BETWEEN photos. The ones where not everyone is looking at the camera. The ones where you see GENUINE connection between people. The ones where you capture LOVE!

Do you see Abuela looking down at Noah? And Noah looking back at her?? And then Mom and Dad looking at big bro and big bro looking at me??? THIS!!! It’s EVERYTHING!

A girl, her camera and baby photos

I’ve been doing photography literally my whole life. I’ve always had a camera. But most people don’t the time, the studying, the work that goes into what we do. From setup to breakdown, the photoshoot, the editing. It’s alot of work. But when you LOVE what you do, it really pays off. I want to share a quick little example of what I’m talking about.

Noah was having a difficult time “settling” during our session. But towards the end, he finally did. And he was in a green romper. And when a baby finally settles after a long time working with them, the less you mess with them, the better. I was NOT about to take that little outfit off of him. We did a setup in a really cute marshmallow bucket. Mom loved it and chose it as one of her final images. But for me, I wanted it to match the bucket better. And with all my knowledge and experience with editing, that’s exactly what I did. Take a look at the before and after…

Before and After photos

The rest of the baby photos!

Without further ado, here are the final images that momma selected for her Collection. There were so many good ones, but these were the overall winners! Plus another one that I worked on as well because, well, it’s gorgeous 🙂

November 14, 2023

Natalie’s Cake Smash Session

Let them eat CAKE!

I was so happy to have Natalie back in The Studio for her First Birthday session! I do not get tired of seeing how “my” babies have grown over the course of a year. Especially when they haven’t been in since their newborn session! It is so fun to see the similarities to when they were babies, but also to see the changes that have happened since then! I genuinely LOVE it!

I also LOVE getting to see the parents and talk to them about the year and how much has happened and how THEY’VE GROWN! It’s especially fun when this is their first baby and they go from being brand new to the whole parenting thing to having a year of experience under their belts. You can see photos from Natalie’s Newborn Session here.

If it doesn’t come through in my writing on this page, I REALLY LOVE what I do! And I REALLY LOVE the families that choose me to capture the most important times in their lives. It’s really an honor and I am so grateful <3

We started Natalie’s Birthday Session with family pictures, then took some portraits of just Natalie and then we went to town on that cake!

Thank You

Thank you so much Kathryn and Eric for trusting me with these special moments and the opportunity to watch your beautiful baby as she grows! THOSE EYES!!!