NJ Newborn Photography

Dating Profile Session | Somerville, NJ

May 1, 2023

If I could have ANY job, I would love to own a candy shop…. you’re literally handing out “happiness” all day long… how could anything be better!?

I had a great time hanging out with Jason on an early weekday morning in Somerville, NJ! We were a little worried about the weather, but the sun showed up and helped us capture some awesome shots!

Jason has a demanding job, but he understands the importance of balance between work and family. He also is serious about finding the right person and was able to dedicate some time from his busy schedule to meet with me for our photoshoot.

While Jason’s job may be demanding, it is also extremely fulfilling. He is doing really important work that is quite literally changing and saving lives! But if he could have ANY job, it would be owning a candy shop so he could put smiles on other people’s faces. How “sweet” is that?!?

When I was younger I thought I had the right temperament to be a great doctor, but then I realized how much school was necessary! My current job brings me a lot of fulfillment and is rewarding.

I asked Jason what the last thing was that he wished for. His answer was the perfect amount of seriousness and humor, in my opinion. His initial response was:

I feel blessed to have my health, happiness, and a constant flow of opportunities coming my way to learn and grow. So, whenever I’m offered a chance to make a wish, I always say “I’m thankful for what I have, and I want nothing more.”

Which he quickly followed up with:

But I wish I could eat a pound of M&M’s a week and not get fat!! That’s my favorite candy by the way!

Jason has “the world’s most amazing 11 year old boy… he has no idea how much I love him”. But that’s not all! He also is the proud Dad to 3 pathos plants! He even named them! Gertrude (she’s a southern belle), Mariah (cuz she’s on fire!), and Suzanne. LOL!

I asked Jason what are the 3 most important things he is looking for in a partner.

Honesty, Trust, and Communication are essential for me.

Jason, I had a great time learning about you and exploring around Somerville. I hope you find your special someone <3 You may have to meet some frogs before you meet your princess!

So let’s get to the photos!

If you are interested in scheduling a dating profile session with me, fill out my contact form for more information!

The Senior Experience | Carly

April 14, 2023

Senior Sessions have my Heart <3

What can I say, I literally get the best of both worlds. I have the opportunity to take the first photos of your babies and then I get to take their last pics as kids before they move onto the next chapter of their lives and embark on their journey into adulthood. It is truly a very special experience I get to have and it is not lost on me.

Carly is one of the coolest kids I have had the opportunity to meet. We had a ton of fun at their Senior Session and just played around as the sun dipped down on the last hours of daylight. We did this session in March so it was actually a bit cold and windy that evening, but Carly didn’t mind and neither did I!

These sessions are really just fun hanging out, talking about their future, their dreams, their plans, dancing to music if we feel like it and me being their hype girl! That’s what these are all about! Capturing your child, their personality, THEM as they are today, in this very moment. I always find that they leave these sessions not only feeling excited about what their futures hold, but a sense of feeling empowered and SEEN! Isn’t that what we all want?

So even though we got a TON of amazing photos from this session, I am going to share the ones that I love the most.

Oh, and Carly also had a more “formal” portrait in The Studio beforehand. Those are also some of my most favorite shoots to do. It’s a new take on a classic shot. You can see some of those further down this page!

The Studio Experience

While I’m at it, let’s take a look at some of the awesome shots we got from the Studio portion of her shoot!

Natalie Maya | Westfield, NJ Newborn Photography

March 11, 2023

I do not have any idea how I somehow missed blogging about these sessions! They produced some of my favorite images! And they are from Summer of 2022!

Momma contacted me a few months before her due date which is what we always encourage. This gives us time to plan and prepare for baby’s arrival. At the time that I am writing this, I offer Maternity Sessions as an add-on to my Newborn Session. And that is what we did for this one. We had a beautiful sunset session for the Maternity and the sun showed up with her golden dripped sunlight. It was a little bit HOT, but Mom and Dad took it like champs and we created beautiful Maternity images that I am so proud of. We even pulled out the Drone for some amazing aerial images!

Then their beautiful princess arrived and it was Newborn shoot time! What I love most about my Clients is that they TRUST me. This is an investment! And it is super important that you TRUST your photographer. That you see their work and love it and TRUST us to create unique images of you and your baby while also appreciating the creative process and artistic styling. I always have my Clients fill out a questionnaire which leads me in selecting what colors, fabrics and props to use. But at the end of the day, as George Michael said, “Ya gotta have faith”!

Kathryn gave me that. And we created some of my favorite Maternity and Newborn images. This little girl is going to be one in a couple of months and I can’t wait to see her again! Hopefully at her cakesmash!

NJ Dating Profile Photographer | Montclair, NJ

February 22, 2023

“I’d like to buy the world a coke”

Aidan and I met in Montclair a couple of days after Christmas. It was chilly, but the air was crisp and exhilarating! We decided on a great little coffee shop to start out, grab a cup and ease into our shoot. Only one slight problem…the actual coffee shop side was under construction. Doh!

Luckily for me, and for the beauty of random street closures in our beautiful State of NJ, I just so happened to drive by a cute little section that I had never been to before. However, it had some major potential! And coffee…don’t forget the coffee! I looked at Aidan and asked if he was down to do some exploring and thankfully he was! That’s the thing, these sessions are very go with the flow. And the more “go with the flow” you are, the better the images will be! We hopped in our cars and drove over towards the Red Eye Cafe to warm up with some coffee.

After we grabbed some delicious caffeinated beverages we made our way to the streets to start our dating profile shoot. Why do I love these so much? Because people’s hearts are in this, because I met my partner online dating 6 years ago, because I simply love LOVE! And exploring and photography and meeting and connecting with new people. It’s literally all of the things <3

Learning a little bit about my Clients

All of my dating profile clients have to fill out a questionnaire when they book with me. Dont’ worry, it’s short and sweet and it allows me to have a little window into what you’re like. I think it also helps my Clients focus on what they are about, what’s important to them and what they’d like to find in a partner. It’s kind of an ice breaker in a way because it gives us some things to talk about too.

Aidan is active and into health and fitness, but not at the expense of having a good sense of humor and wanting to connect with someone who he can do fun active things with and then head home grab some takeout and wine and cuddle up on the couch to watch a good movie. And trust me, I know he’s cool because his favorite movie is Good Fellas. “What am I here to amuse you”? He listed his hero as Steph Curry. The reason why? Because he seems to have figured out career, family and happiness. MY HEART!!! Yes, these things are so IMPORTANT!

The one thing you can’t live without…

What is the one thing that Aidan cannot live without? Is it his favorite hat? His cell phone? Camera? No. It is his Coca-Cola 🙂 And since the last thing he wished for was Peace, it made me think of the old commercial:

“I’d like to teach the world to sing
In perfect harmony
I’d like to buy the world a Coke
And keep it company
That’s the real thing”

Thank you, Aidan, for trusting me take your photos and I hope that just like Steph Curry, you too can figure out career, family and happiness!

“Joan Marie Photography was an awesome experience. Joan’s creative approach is not only incredibly effective, it’s also fun! 5/5 would recommend to anyone looking for high quality photography.”
Aidan

Newborn | Juliana | Scotch Plains, NJ

February 9, 2023

Meet Juliana!

I have been busy with Newborns lately and just sent out this little girl’s gallery. What a beautiful little girl she was!

Her grandmother actually contacted me wanting to GIFT a newborn session to her daughter. I can’t think of a more amazing gift! Can you? Man, I wish someone gifted that to me when I had my babies…I definitely was not the photographer then that I am now LOL.

These sessions are not lost on me. I love sitting and talking with the parents about their birth, their adoption, their story. I feel like I always get something out of these talks. Sometimes I even find out a connection we have with one another such as mutual friends, life experiences, etc. It’s another part of the “job” that I really love. Human connection. And the magical first weeks with the new life that has entered this world. What a blessing!