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Tag Archives: baby photographer

Birthday Photos | Cake Smash Photography | Scotch Plains, NJ

cake smash photography nj

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.

Cake Smash Photography | Westfield, NJ

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!!!

Newborn Photography NJ | Chatham

One month of sweetness <3

Sometimes mommas contact me after baby has been born to schedule their Newborn shoot. And while we (speaking for Newborn Photographers across the world) always recommend booking in advance, we understand that is not always what happens. Why? Well, because, LIFE! Life in general can be crazy and busy and overwhelming. Now throw in growing a baby in your belly and all the planning that takes place just to be prepared for the baby!

What’s the best age for a newborn shoot?

All Newborn Photographers have different thoughts on the “ideal” time to photograph a newborn. And the windows can vary greatly. Some don’t take on Newborns after they reach a certain age, like oh, I don’t know, over 2 weeks. And while that may sound crazy calling a 2 week old baby “too old”, the reality is that the photographer doesn’t believe they will be able to deliver the images that they would be happy with. So thank them for being honest with you and themself about it! It CAN get more difficult to do a newborn shoot as the baby gets older because they are awake more often and can be more difficult to pose.

Then there are also some photographers who legit don’t have any availability for a newborn session because they have a full calendar of shoots that were booked 6 months before baby was born.

But the good news is…there are a lot of us! Especially here in NJ! With various price ranges and packages and experience and props and equipment and training. There is no shortage of Newborn Photographers in NJ to choose from. 🙂

And I am so happy that I had availability on my calendar when this momma called me. I actually only take a number of Newborn Sessions a month so that I am able to accommodate parents who didn’t have a chance to book months in advance. He was just super adorable and so were his big sis and bro!

So Ladies and Gentlemen, I now present to you, this adorably handsome little boy Mateyko…

NJ Newborn & Baby Photographer | Joan Marie

NJ Newborn & Baby Photographer

  • newborn baby in knit bear had on a golden fur blanket
  • newborn baby boy sleeps on a sage green backdrop

Newborn Photography

Hi, my name is Joan, and I’m a Newborn Photographer in Scotch Plains, NJ. I absolutely LOVE baby photos! From tiny baby fingers and toes to the cute little noises they make. There is no denying that these babies are little miracles. And I am SO BLESSED and GRATEFUL that parents let me snuggle, hold and photograph these tiny blessings that they have brought into this world. And I feel a calling to create beautiful pieces of art with baby as the subject. I love being a Newborn Photographer! Give me ALL the babies!

My newborn sessions take place at my Portrait Studio located in downtown Scotch Plains, NJ. As a Fine Art Portrait Studio I offer a variety of beautiful archival products and wall art for you to display and enjoy in your home for years to come.

Newborn sessions include a complimentary consultation and a personalized and individualized approach to planning your unique session with me. You will have access to all of my props and adorable newborn accessories (shhhh…I have ALOT, just take a look at all my bucket options!) and the best part (besides the day you pickup your artwork)…the gallery reveal and ordering appointment! Imagine sitting with me and looking through your gallery of newborn photos?!

Because I take a very limited number of Newborn Clients each month, I highly recommend you book at least 12 weeks in advance to secure a spot on my calendar! There is a 200 retainer to book and I offer multiple collections, both digital and printed.

Do you offer Maternity Sessions?

The short answer is YES! I really enjoy working with women and showing them how beautiful they are. And what is more beautiful than a woman who is carrying life inside of her? Honestly it’s also so exciting for me to actually be a part of their experience. From meeting and talking about their pregnancy, their hopes, their dreams, their excitement. And then just a few weeks later they’re in my Studio with their new baby. It’s honestly a complete honor.

Maternity sessions are very much a collaboration with my mommas to be. Each woman is unique and I really try to capture their style and beauty in a personalized way. And I think every woman deserves to have images capturing the miracle that is pregnancy!

  • beautiful mother to be poses with golden grown on her head in this maternity portrait
  • beautiful mother to be poses with golden grown on her head in this maternity portrait
  • beautiful mother to be poses with golden grown on her head in this maternity portrait

If you are an expectant mom, dad, parent, grandparent, let’s talk about capturing one of the most important times in your life! You can also peep my work on my instagram!

Recent Newborn Photoghraphy Sessions

Newborn Photos

Newborn Photography | Scotch Plains, NJ

Newborn Photography

Yes, I offer newborn photography in my Scotch Plains, NJ Studio. But I am not just a newborn photographer. I am completely and utterly in love with, addicted to, capturing love and people through my lens. Weddings, Dating Profile Pictures, Newborns, Cake Smashes, Pet Portraits, Branding…the list just goes on and on.

My love affair with photography began many years ago, but the flame was reignited after the birth of my first born. My children have taught me patience, love, strength, hope and to always follow my heart. Our time is precious, moments are fleeting, and photography has been a way for me to preserve these moments in time that I want to be able to look back upon for years to come.

I am a Studio Art graduate from the University of Vermont where I studied painting, photography, drawing, sculpture, art history, just to name a few. I believe that these different medias have influenced and shaped the way I see, and ultimately, photograph my subjects.

My love of photography is visible in the work I produce. I am not simply taking photographs, I am pouring my heart and soul into capturing the true essence of you, of your family, of your small business, and transforming it into ART. I have realized over the years that my main purpose is to EMPOWER others with my photography. And that is what I hope to do for you!

From newborn photography to Dating Profile pictures, I’ve got you covered! So give me a call, drop me an email! Let’s talk about your photography needs and how I can help create the imagery that you’re looking for!

Joan Marie Photography is a portrait studio specializing in Newborn Photography and Portrait Photography

joan marie

Scotch Plains, NJ 07076

908.312.1788 | info@joanmariephotography.com

379968614