Tag Archives: westfield

Natalie Maya | Westfield, NJ Newborn Photography

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!

Scotch Plains | Newborn | Veronica

Well, I’ve done it again. LOL. I have waited excruciatingly long to blog. But just like the prodigal son, I return HAHAHA!! What?! Too mom jokey for ya? Have we even MET?

When Veronica’s mom contacted me, she had already been born. In fact, she was close to a month old! But hey, I am always up for a challenge. Did you know that most newborn photographers schedule their newborns for 7-10 days after birth? Did you know that some photographers will actually TURN AWAY a newborn that has missed this magical window? Yes, it is true. And while it is coming from a place of love, a place where we know that babies that age will be more sleepy and flexible, it can be heartbreaking for a new momma to be turned away. Imagine you JUST had a baby and are already being made to feel like you’re FAILING?!? That you might have missed out on something that you can never get back because…TIME?!?!

I’m a mom. I suck at scheduling. People will tell you that I will be late for my own funeral. I planned on having my kids around 2 years apart. Then my second STOLE my 2 year old’s Birthday. The GUILT! I actually lived in GUILT for too long to admit feeling like I did this to him. Moms don’t need anymore pressure, stress, guilt or shame. Believe me, we give ourselves enough of it unfortunately. As does this society we live it.

So obviously, I said absolutely! Of course I set realistic expectations, but also promised we would end up with amazing art. Because making art from my newborn experience is just as important to me as it is to the parents who trust me with their investment. And this lil’ girl did NOT disappoint! <3

So yes, some newborn photographers will turn you away, some will tell you your baby is too old. It’s not their fault either. It is usually that they don’t think they will be able to get the images you hope they can capture. So they shouldn’t be faulted either. At the end of the day, we all strive to deliver what we promise. We all want to perform our jobs to the best of our abilities. If they say your baby is too old, it means that they do not think they will be able to deliver the images that best represents their work. That while they are confident they can capture the poses and images they can with a 7-10 day old, they aren’t sure they can get them with an “older” baby. HAHA, “older baby”…sounds ridiculous, but you know what I mean.

But also, lots of Newborn Photographers have Newborns booked MONTHS in advance! So sometimes it’s just a matter of not having availability! So there’s that too…

In any case, if a newborn photographer turns you away for missing the window, just call around. We live in a very saturated market of newborn photographers. And I am sure you will find someone who you connect with, click with, whose work moves you and who will welcome your month old baby with open arms! Maybe that photographer is me? 😉

Scotch Plains Newborn Photographer | Gianna

Wow, I’ve been so busy! And I feel so blessed for all of the new Clients and BABIES I’ve been able to meet lately! So now after the Holidays are over I will be catching up on my blog posts!

This little angel was such a little peanut! So tiny, and SOOOOO CUTE! Just look at the adorable images we were able to get from her session!

Thank you so much for choosing me Becky! I can’t believe this was already a MONTH AGO??? XOXO

NJ Dating Profile Photographer | Scotch Plains, NJ | Me

Okay, ya’ll! We need to talk. We have a serious situation on our hands and I’d like to be the one to address it. I say this with LOVE. Your dating profile pictures need some help. Like FOR REAL!

Here is the thing… I know that some of us (younger than me obviously) have grown up in a time where dating apps are their “normal”. Its like riding a bike. They are from a different generation than me. Maybe its more familiar to them. I don’t know…but regardless, I am talking to you. The one who has been out of the dating game for awhile. Maybe you’re divorced. Maybe you were in a bad relationship for far too long. Maybe you were focusing on other things like your career. But here you are. You find yourself wanting to find a real connection. But you’ve hear about these “apps”. How people “use” them. That they are only for “hook ups” and casual dating. But you guys, stop with these limiting thoughts! These apps are whatever you make of them! And let me tell you, you CAN use them to find your special someone. To find LOVE. I promise you, I speak from experience.

I was married for almost 7 years. Dated for 5 years before that. I was “out of the game” for twelve years. TWELVE YEARS! That is a LONG ASS time! I don’t even think there WERE dating apps when I was dating. And if there were, I had never used them. And actually, it was probably a year and a half AFTER I got divorced that I even started to consider dating again. So now we are talking about 13 years! I can hardly even believe it as I type it out.

How do you start dating again? Mom of 2 boys, no idea even how to date casually, and a career to balance. But if you want to meet someone you have to put yourself out there. Yes, we all probably start out by saying “I just want it to be organic and natural” “we will meet in a cafe” “why couldn’t we just bump into each other at the grocery store”. And those dreams are fine and dandy, but the chances of that happening are probably pretty slim. So I think “organically” we start to consider the possibility of online dating. And it is a strange thing when you start to really consider it.

If you’re like me, you start off saying you want to do something that has scientific match making algorithms to help you find someone you are actually compatible with. These services are usually NOT free and so you sign up and start building a profile and yada yada. Honestly, I’m bored even thinking about it. But you know what I get excited about? The OTHER online dating apps. The free ones. The ones that you can literally swipe through hundreds of potential romantic partners a day. And listen, this is a process. It takes time to figure out how to use these to find the right type of person or relationship. It takes time to decide who is worthy of YOUR time. It takes time to realize that you should even be THINKING of it that way! YES!!! You need to be PICKY about who you are giving YOUR precious time to! Because you are WORTHY of someone who isn’t going to waste it. Unless of course that’s what you want because don’t worry, you can find that too LOL.

Now back to the apps. The initial matching process in every single one of these apps is based PURELY on looks. Which honestly is NOT a bad thing. I do think it is important that there be an initial physical attraction. But that is what this post is all about. So many people are missing out on potential matches purely because they need a little help in the profile department. Don’t get me wrong, some of you have it figured out and your pictures are good enough. But lots of you need some help. You need to be thinking of yourself as a product and you need to market the shit out of yourself! Why are you posting these pictures on an app where your FIRST IMPRESSION needs to be a stellar profile picture!?

I met my boyfriend on an online dating app almost 3 years ago. I don’t think my pictures were amazing in any way. But I also am a photographer so I put effort and thought into the types of pictures I put in my profile. I wanted them to tell a story about the kind of person I am, while also trying to make them somewhat cute 😉

But not everyone has the same “eye” as me. And that is what I want to help you with. I really actually want to HELP you find LOVE (if that’s what you’re looking for). And I think I can help you with your pictures. No, I KNOW I can help you with your pictures!

So this is the NEWEST product I’m offering. Dating profile sessions. They will be awesome and fun and laid back and more of a documentary style session. We will talk and laugh and swap stories. And you’ll get images that will stand out in your profile; “right swipe” worthy pictures. I am all about using my super power (photography) to empower and help others and this is a department that I have experience in.

What do you say? Isn’t it time you invested in YOU???

Oh, and if you aren’t looking for love, just hookups, no judgement. I can help you with those too LOL

Stay tuned for some awesome pics I took from my most recent Dating Profile sesh! I can’t wait to share them!

joan marie

1728 E 2nd St
Scotch Plains, NJ 07076

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