Category Archives: Family

NJ Family Photographer | The Engelsons

October 29, 2020

What a gift it is to be able to watch families grow over time. To be trusted to document them. I feel so privileged when a family chooses me, my photography, in an area so heavily saturated with photographers! Some families have their portraits taken year after year. And when they come back to me, I don’t take it for granted. I know that this is a very special thing.

This is one of those families. And I truly love them for it. I don’t ALWAYS shoot into the sun. It’s actually quite challenging, especially when it comes to the editing. And most of this session was shot that way; into direct sunlight. But I love the magical quality it has created in these images.

As a mom of 2 boys myself, I have a strong familiarity to the boy energy. After we had to reschedule our original session date due to weather, we almost had to reschedule again because the night before the youngest found himself in the ER! Lets just say he had a run-in with a trampoline and the trampoline won this one. But he was a TOTAL TROOPER! He got stitches and rallied for our photo session. He was smiling and laughing and man, was I impressed!

I love seeing the bond between brothers. Again, maybe because I love seeing it between my own boys…but I’ve realized that it’s more than that. I love connections between people…the bonds they have with their pets, with the places they love…and it is my calling to capture these connections.

So it comes down to this.

I don’t want to “take pictures”.

I don’t want to be “a photographer”.

I want to capture connections. I want to be an artist. I may not be able to take the love that I see between people, places and things and stuff it into a bottle for us to hold onto forever, but I can do the closest thing I can think of. I can capture these connections and feelings the only way I know how; through imagery – ART.

And if you’re on the search for a connection capturing artist, hit me up 😉

Pics by my 7-year old

March 22, 2020

I honestly don’t know what to say. This whole Coronavirus situation has me feeling so many things. And can we just get real for a hot minute? To quote my man, The Fresh Prince, “Our LIVES got flipped, turned upside down” overnight. Literally overnight everything changed. I’ve been quarantining with my kids since school closed indefinitely over a week ago. Has it really only been a little over a week? Well, I’ll have more to say about this so in the meantime, let’s get back on track and to what I’m actually posting about.

So in trying to get outside with the kids while also trying to make it fun and educational, I lent each of my sons one of my cameras. The 3 of us set out to explore, to absorb our surroundings, to take our minds off of all the BIG stuff for a little bit. I am starting them out with understanding aperture. We all set our cameras to f/3.5 for the first day we went out (2nd day too, but that will be another post) and I kept the camera in aperture priority mode, letting the camera handle the rest. It really made me see why it is so important to learn how to work your camera in manual. While cameras do an okay job, they just don’t know what you are trying to accomplish.

These are some of my favorites from Cole’s (7) first day with the camera. He took the shots and I did the edits so you can call this a collaboration. Although the 2 shots of him (black and white) I took using his camera. And I absolutely ADORE them! The one of the 3 of his was done using the timer. He set the camera up on the kitchen counter and we quickly got in the frame. In time I will show them the editing process and see where their creative minds take them. Maybe we can all shoot the same thing and then edit our own pics and see what each of us comes up with? The best part about this? My kids had a TON of fun doing this! So I’m hopeful this will continue and we can enjoy lots more camera time together!

NJ Family Photograper | Union County

October 8, 2019

I photographed the beautiful love and connection between multiple generations a week ago and it was nothing short of magical. Lori and her sister, Amy, both went to my high school and it was so much fun being able to reconnect and witness the love they share for Mimi and their children.

Amy has 2 GORGEOUS sons, around the same ages as mine. If you don’t have 2 boys or more…you might not understand what that can be like. But I do! In fact, Amy’s sons went to preschool with mine (an interesting fact that neither of us realized until quite a ways into the school year). And I was blown away by their personalities and ability to “hang out” and converse with me. I haven’t seen them for maybe FOUR years now and I can’t describe the joy I feel being able to see how little boys have grown.

Lori was in my graduating class (I won’t say the year ;)). And the last time I saw her was when I took newborn pictures of her little Olivia. Olivia was the tiniest little peanut when I met her and now she has grown into a beautiful little girl. Lori has since been blessed with another beautiful daughter since I last saw her and I was able to meet her during our Sunday family session. Poor little Zoe was less than thrilled that I was interrupting her nap time, but she persevered and I managed to get some adorable shots of her too.

Maybe the most touching part of my session was the reason for it. Lori and Amy gifted this session to their mom, Mimi, for a Birthday present. They wanted to document the love between their Mom and children. This, this right here people, is what makes my heart Split Open and Melt (props to you if you got this Phish reference). But in all seriousness, this is what gives me life. And I saw the love between all of them. I witnessed it for myself. And it was beautiful and heart breaking and amazing and inspiring and ALL THE THINGS. And I hope that I was able to document that for them in the images that I delivered.

At the end of our session a beautiful butterfly appeared, and all the kids new that it must be their Great Grandma letting us know that she too was a part of our special morning.

This is my purpose and I am so grateful for the people who choose me to do this work.

Thank you, Hart Girls! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Joan Marie Photography | NJ Newborn Photographer & NJ Portrait Photographer in Scotch Plains

April 27, 2017

Hi there!

First of all…I am so happy to have you here! I mean it!

My name is Joan Marie and I am obsessed with photography. Maybe not so much photography, but the practice of documenting everything! From the really big moments to the seemingly mundane. I find the magic in everything that I do and that carries into the way (and the what) I photograph. I’m a momma to two boys who are not so little anymore. I call Fanwood, NJ home, but I really believe that home isn’t so much a place as it is a feeling. Sometimes it’s a memory. Sometimes it’s a person. And oftentimes it is the moment, the place, the person that I am photographing with my camera. A photograph has the ability to take you back there, to home.

I find connection in people and their lives, their professions, their love, their babies and pets. And it is through that connection that I find my inspiration and power to photograph what my heart sees. I am love. And that is why I do what I do. I can’t wait to share that with you!

Fine Art Newborn Photography & Portrait Photography

Joan Marie is a newborn & portrait photographer serving the Tri-State area. Joan’s private photography studio is located in downtown Scotch Plains in Union County, NJ. All sessions are custom curated and designed by Joan Marie and include the use of her props, backdrops, outfits and accessories.

Whether you have a new addition to the family or are seeing your High Schooler off to college, Joan Marie can help you freeze time with the images she captures. Giving you the most beautiful artwork and products for you to treasure for years to come.

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