Tag Archives: Outdoor Portraits

Handsome young man with beard and mustache has photographs taken for his dating profile

Capturing Authenticity: A Dating Photo Session with an Outdoor Enthusiast

As a photographer, there’s nothing quite like the opportunity to capture the genuine essence of someone through my lens. Recently, I had the pleasure of doing a dating photo session with a young man named Febin, whose passion for the great outdoors is both inspiring and infectious. This session was not just about taking pictures; it was about telling Febin’s story, his love for nature, and his vision for a future partner.

Meet Febin: An Adventurous Spirit

Febin is the epitome of an outdoor enthusiast. His weekends are spent hiking through rugged trails, casting lines in serene fishing spots, and soaking up the tranquility of nature. For Febin, the outdoors isn’t just a hobby—it’s a lifestyle. This passion for adventure is something he hopes to share with a partner who values the same zest for life.

The Setting: Embracing Nature’s Beauty

To truly capture Febin’s essence, we chose a location that mirrors his love for nature, but also a bit of city. The backdrop of towering trees, the gentle rustle of leaves, and the glistening water provided the perfect setting for our session.

Capturing Compatibility in Dating Photos

One of the key things Febin is looking for in a partner is compatibility. Someone who he can share his interests with. We started with shots of Febin in his element, hiking along a scenic trail, his expression one of contentment and peace. These dating photos weren’t just about showing Febin enjoying an activity; they were about capturing the type of environment where he feels most himself and hopes to share with someone special.

Seeking a Long-Term Connection

Febin’s desire for a long-term relationship and eventually starting a family was another critical aspect to convey. We aimed to capture the moments that reflect his nurturing and thoughtful side. In a particularly poignant shot, Febin is sitting atop a tree stump. The calm and reflective nature of this image speaks to his desire for stability, a deep connection, and his vision of sharing peaceful moments with a future partner.

To further emphasize this, we captured Febin in a series of more intimate, candid shots—him enjoying a coffee in a picturesque coffe shop. These images tell a story of a man who is ready to settle down and build a future filled with love, respect, and mutual goals.

Emphasizing Physical Compatibility

Physical compatibility is essential for Febin, not just for shared activities but for overall lifestyle synergy.

Conclusion: A Journey Through the Lens

Photographing Febin was an enriching experience. Through my lens, I aimed to encapsulate not just his love for the outdoors, but also his hopes and dreams for a future partner. The images we created together tell a story of a man who is genuine, adventurous, and ready for a lasting connection.

This session reminded me of the power of photography—not just to capture a moment, but to tell a story, to dream, and to inspire. For Febin, these dating photos are more than just a profile; they are a glimpse into his world, his passions, and his heart.

If you’re interested in capturing your own story or showcasing your unique personality in a dating profile, feel free to reach out. Let’s create something beautiful together.


By sharing Febin’s story and vision, we hope to connect him with someone who not only shares his interests but also his values and dreams for the future. See more dating profile sessions here.

Dating Photos and Puppy Love

Lisa reached out to me when she stumbled upon my first dating blog post about ME! When she emailed me I happened to be sitting on my computer and I immediately saw the notification. She basically said she felt like she was reading about her own life. I LOVE THAT! I mean not that I am happy that anyone goes through a divorce and then ends up in this weird online dating internet world, but that she found me relatable. That she connected with what I shared.

We chatted for a little bit about our lives and similarities. Lisa has 2 dogs and cat (I have 1 dog and a cat) and how they get along (or don’t LOL) And ultimately what it’s like booking an online dating photo session with me. And she was in.

“Have fun storming the castle”

As per usual, I sent Lisa my online dating photos questionnaire. I really love these questionnaires because it gives me a little insight about the person I am meeting and I think it gets them into a good mindset about what THEY are looking for and what THEY like. Sometimes with online dating we tend to start thinking about what other people are looking for and how we can craft our profile to attract what THEY want. But listen, that is NOT how to do it. You need to attract what YOU want into your life! So flip that script! Here is a little bit from Lisa’s questionnaire:

What brings you joy?

My pets, PBS Masterpiece Theater programs, my home (I live on a lake!), and hiking in the woods.

What kind of music do you like?  Do you have a favorite band or concert you’ve been to?

I like music of all kinds. lately, I have been listening a lot to Amos Lee.

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

Confidence, strength, integrity, health-conscious, etc.

To thine own self be true

I’m pretty sure that Lisa has a good handle on who she is. She knows herself, she is successful and confident and she has a pretty awesome life. She’s just missing that one thing. And honestly, I don’t think she thinks that she is “missing” anything. She just is open to finding the person that adds to her life. Someone she can go hiking with, watch Philly sports teams with, watch sunsets on the lake with. She would like to meet that person that can grow old alongside her with. And I’m pretty sure they’d be pretty lucky to find her too! As I was editing her online dating photos I realized that she looks like a mixture of Nicole Kidman and Meg Ryan! What do you think?

Lisa I had so much fun with you. I can’t wait to hear how your story unfolds!

AS YOUUUUU WISSSSHHHHHHHH!!!

Here are some of Lisa’s online dating photos from our session.

Dating Photos with Karen!

Karen reached out to me online when she came across my information for dating photos. There was no hesitation in her booking me. She was sure from the get go and as soon as I sent her my booking information, she hopped right on it and booked! I love that! Not only did she know what she wanted, but she put her trust in me immediately. That really made me so happy!

We met at my new favorite spot, Hatch 44, where I have been meeting lots of my clients at lately. There is so much I love about it. The food and drinks are amazing, the staff is so friendly and accomodating, and the atmosphere is buzzing with good energy. And the ambiance aint too shabby either ;). We sat and sipped on some tea and coffee and put in our orders for empanadas (HIGHLY RECOMMEND)! As we enjoyed our food and drink we talked a little bit about our experiences with dating, our interests, and occupations. I really enjoyed meeting up with Karen and I had a great time roaming around Metuchen while we got some good quality dating photos for Karen’s dating profile.

Is Tinder a 4 letter word in the dating world?

I have this conversation probably with every dating profile client I work with. When I first got into the online dating scene I was dead set against using Tinder. I had my own preconceived notions of what Tinder was all about and who was using it. Not to mention WHAT they were using it for. Random hookups, no commitments, blah blah blah. No thanks!

But I am someone who really truly believes in not having limiting beliefs. For having a positive mindset. For thinking outside of the box. And what I was doing was creating a limiting belief system and it was downright negative! And while I may have had to “kiss” a few toads to find my prince, I found him…on tinder :). I tell this story to my clients so they can reflect on their own choices and approach to online dating. And I shared this with Karen. We can really use any of these apps however we choose to! And that’s how you make them work!

I loved the answers that Karen provided on her dating photo questionnaire (something I have all of my clients complete when they book). Here are a few of the ones that really stood out to me:

Favorite movie/movie quote?

“Yes, the past can hurt. But you can either run from it or learn from it.” -Rafiki from Lion King

What kind of music do you like?  Do you have a favorite band or concert you’ve been to?

My favorite band is Ghost, which I am very passionate about. I listen to all music but my favorites are rock and metal. I am open to new band interests always.

If you could have any job, what would it be?

I am currently in graduate school for my Masters of Occupational Therapy. My dream job is to use this education creatively to teach children to grow up with security, self-confidence and self-regulation through OT and spirituality.

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

My Spotify app!

Karen – I could tell just from reading your answers to the questionnaire that you are a compassionate, kind and loving person. Your choice in profession is proof of that. I have a son with emotional regulation challenges. I don’t know if I mentioned that during our little brunch time. But people like you are SO IMPORTANT to parents like me. We need you. So thank you for choosing to work with kids like my son to give them the tools to grow up to be successful adults.

I wish you the absolute best and can’t wait for you to e-mail me to let me know that you’ve found your person!!

dating photos

“Such is life”

James and I had to reschedule his dating profile date to a week later. But I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. And sure enough, I got sick that day and so it worked out for everyone.

When we started our session James wasn’t sure if I would be able to get any good pics of him. He mentioned not really having any good pictures of himself. I found that shocking! And also, challenge accepted 😏

“It’s now or Never..to get your dating profile photos done”

I didn’t really realize it during our dating profile shoot, but afterwards while I was editing, it hit me! James resembles a young Elvis! Do you see it? But when it comes to music, Elvis didn’t make it to the top of James’ list

What kind of music do you like?  Do you have a favorite band or concert you’ve been to?

Three Days Grace has always been my top band or that’s at least what Spotify says. I also like foo fighters and cage the elephants. Reggae and gym funk is also my top genres at the moment.

Is it Destiny?

James has a bunch of interests from chess to playing with his new adorable kittens. But he also enjoys chilling out with his video games. One of his favorites? Destiny!

James I had a great time at our dating profile session and I can’t wait to hear more about how things work out for you! Best of luck!

Want to see more?

You can see more of my dating profile sessions here!

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!

“Another one rides the bus”

If you know where those lyrics are from, then you are probably a fan of Weird Al Yankovik. Which means you’d probably have a great time hanging out with Rahul who has seen Weird Al multiple times! I thought that was an interesting bit to find out about him.

I always ask my clients if they could live anywhere, where would it be? Rahul’s answer? Toronto! And if he could choose between the city or the country he would pick the city. While he enjoys the beauty of the country, he is really drawn to the culture you find in the city.

When I asked Rahul what it is that makes him happy, he responded as I would imagine a psychiatrist would:

I mostly find joy in helping others feel better.

Imagine that!? A man who finds joy in helping others feel better. Rahul is generous and is looking for the same in his partner(s). He is smart, interesting, skeptical, and enjoys connecting on a deeper level. He even enjoys yoga and has experience with salsa dancing!

We had a beautiful day for our dating shoot and we even got to experience the 11AM Pack Walk with Wonder Dog Studio! Imagine turning a corner to see a sea of Golden Retrievers coming towards you!? It was so awesome and impressive!

Thank you Rahul for trusting me to capture YOU last week and I can’t wait to hear how things work out for you!

Colleen’s Dating Session in Westfield NJ

“Ditto”

I’m a NJ Dating Profile Photographer and I’m shocked to realize that it was more than 4 months ago that Colleen and I got together for her Dating Profile Session! But yes, here we are! I hope she updates me on what’s going on in the love department since our session! Because I legit get invested! I’m a romantic and I do truly want my dating profile clients to find love! Seriously!

Colleen is adorable and she is also ambitious. She’s one of those women who sees what she wants, and with focus and determination, reaches her goal. I think she also KNOWS what she wants. And she isn’t going to settle for anything less.

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

That they are loyal That they enjoy traveling That they are employed That they are ready for true love and know it when they see it.

Colleen loves her job, but when she comes home she enjoys relaxing on the couch and getting into a good documentary. Now she just needs to find a good man with character who she can snuggle up next to.

Colleen! I had so much fun on our shoot! I love meeting strong and ambitious women who know not only what they want, but what they deserve. Thank you for our time together and I am wishing you find someone amazing!

Are you Interested?

If you are looking for a NJ Dating Profile Photographer, look no further! Fill out my contact form and let’s start planning YOUR dating profile session TODAY!

Tim’s Dating Profile Session in Somerset, NJ

“Do or do not, there is no try”

We did Tim’s Dating Profile Session in Somerset NJ. I really enjoyed hanging out with and getting to know Tim. He had a location in mind for our shoot and I’m so happy he introduced me to it! Actually, truth is that I’ve heard of this place for awhile, but just never had a chance to get there. And funny thing…lol. We got there and I was so impressed by the gardens that I was just wide eyed thinking of all the potential photo ops. I got to talking to one of the groundskeepers and that’s when I was informed that I needed a permit to shoot in the gardens. DOH! I mean, I kind of figured when I saw it. But I’m an idiot and literally walked right by the sign that said you need a permit. And then she tells me there is also a ROSE GARDEN there! So if you want to shoot at a rose garden, hit me up! Just know that a permit is required!

Roll with it

So after that slightly embarrassing situation, we took a stroll nearby and continued our shoot. Tim already had an idea of the types of shots he wanted and I think we got just what he was looking for!

I always have my dating profile clients fill out a questionnaire before our shoot. It really helps me go into the shoot with a feeling that I already know them a bit. And I always find out something interesting about them! What I learned about Tim is that he threw the javelin in high school! I mean, what?!? That is pretty cool! He is active and it seems like Summer is his time of year because he likes to go down the shore, get some sun and go kayaking or bike riding. Not only that, but his ideal date would be having drinks; cocktails or craft beers. Where are my craft beer girls at?!

When I do dating profile sessions I like to try and incorporate hobbies or interests in the images we create. One of the things that Tim enjoys is cooking. So we talked about getting some shots of him preparing one of his favorites that he could enjoy later with his family. What was it you ask? Well it was SAUCE and meatballs. And yes, we both say “sauce” not “gravy”. Fight me. LOL! An interesting thing that Tim told me is that one of his relatives, I think his Aunt, published a family cookbook! And I was surprised when he put pieces of pepperoni (I think it was pepperoni) into the sauce. I am definitely going to try that! I bet it’s delicious!

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

– Active
– Family oriented
– Easy going

So if you’re looking for a nice Italian Jersey Boy who enjoys cooking, spending time with family and friends, being active in the Summer Sun, but is also down to hang out and get into the latest tv series, then Tim is your guy! P.S. Tim may be a Jersey boy, but he’s got some Country in his soul too…from music to location. He prefers country over the city and is ready to get down to some country tunes!

Tim, I had a great time during our shoot and can’t wait to see where this journey takes you!

Josh’s Dating Profile Session in Cranford NJ

“No Ragrets”

We scheduled Josh’s dating profile session in Cranford NJ. I had a great time hanging out with Josh during his shoot a few weeks ago. It’s always so much fun getting to know more about the people I am shooting. I find there is always something beautiful and interesting to learn about each other. I think we are missing that these days. So many people are rushing from one place to the next and we really miss out on that human connection. I’m not saying we need to make friends with everyone we meet, but sometimes a smile or a hello can go a long way!

One thing I love about these sessions is that I really genuinely want to know more about my clients. I feel like making that connection is essential in the way that I capture their portraits. It helps me to be able to get honest shots of real smiles and whatnot. And it also helps everyone feel more comfortable!

Josh is fun, outgoing, talented (he’s pretty good at the Chinese yoyo!). He is interesting and loves traveling. Not only has he been to Japan, but he actually attended all 4 years of college at Osaka University! If he could have ANY JOB it would be a tour guide, hands down.

Tour guide hands down. Or the owner of an onsen-hotel or boba shop in Japan where the vibe is chill, people are diverse, and I can make my own schedule.

Hobbies?

I love traveling (I grew up in Edison but actually went to Japan at Osaka university for all four years or my undergrad) Also love boxing (hard work and focus can’t beat the feeling…) I’ve been sparring less recently though to make time to study for the bar exam. To relax I usually just read Steven king haha. His stuff isn’t too dark or weird for me, I think he has an unshakable grasp of the human psyche and just shows it for what it is…) My worst “hobby” though, is that sometimes I can get lost on YouTube for hours and sleep at like 3 am…

I know it won’t take Josh very long to meet the person he’s looking for. He has a great smile and a good heart. Thanks for choosing me to capture you, Josh! I really enjoyed it!

joan marie

1589 E 2nd Street

Scotch Plains, NJ 07076

908.312.1788 | info@joanmariephotography.com

379968614