my 365 personal project – new england and new orleans photographer

September 20, 2018September 20, 2018 janeberger

Thursday throwback to April … what a lovely month! It began with an Easter parade in New Orleans’ French Quarter, birthday celebrations with my wonderful sister, crawfish, grandgirls, and I discovered my love for ranunculus — these gorgeous blooms that resemble something between a rose and a zinnia, but grow in a wild way similar to tulips after they’ve been in water for several days. Apparently, I love a beautiful mess. We ended the month in New England via Birmingham, Savannah and Hilton Head, where pansies and popcorn awaited us! Such a fun month … enjoy!

Thanks for coming along on this journey with me!

April hath put a spirit of youth in everything.

-Shakespeare

xoxoxoxoxo

Jane is a lifestyle and portrait photographer in New England and New Orleans.

Email jane@janeberger.com if you’d like a personalized lifestyle session.

personal project | 365 | maine and new orleans photographer

July 10, 2018July 10, 2018 janeberger

March.

March Madness. It comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. Well, it definitely came in like a lion as I was scheduled for a flight from New Orleans to Portland on March 2, only to have it cancelled because of a Nor’Easter. L O T S of snow. So I flew out two days later, was here for two weeks, and guess what … two more Nor’Easters hit. Yowza!

So here’s my merry month of snow, beach, crawfish, scrabble, knitting, nashville and the Grand Ole Opry, and just basic madness … in pictures. #playingcatchup

xoxoxoxoxo

Jane is a portrait and lifestyle photographer based in southern maine and sometimes new orleans. Contact Jane by emailing her at jane@janeberger.com for more information. And just to say hi!

fall break | maine scenic photographer

October 21, 2017October 21, 2017 janeberger

Fall is typically my busy time of year. If I’m not behind my camera, I’m in front of my computer — culling, editing and posting the images previously shot. This year provided some breathing room and so it was a great time to take a little time off.

Where to go in Maine in the fall? I would run out of fingers and toes tenfold counting all the beautiful spots in this great state. So we settled on Point Lookout in Northport — not too far that it would take more than a half day to leisurely make our way there, and not too close so that it felt like we were going away on vacation. My honey and I, and my sister and her honey bunked in a sweet, rustic log cabin nestled in the woods and warmed by the fire in the cast iron stove. We took the short trip up Mount Battie that overlooked the lovely little coastal town of Camden, and then went into town for dining and some therapy shopping(!). Belfast wasn’t too far up the road and it turned out to be a delight, and Lincolnville was well worthwhile for getting up and out before the break of dawn.

We had such a great time that we’re thinking we’ll do it again next year! I’m happy to share snippets of our mini vacation with you!

I’m so glad to live in a place where there are Octobers.

llmontgomery, anne of green gables

xoxoxoxoxo

Jane is a lifestyle, portrait and elopement photographer covering Maine, New England, New Orleans and beyond. Contact Jane at jane@janeberger.com for more information.

a fall break | maine scenic photographer

October 20, 2017October 20, 2017 janeberger

We had such a great time that we’re thinking we’ll do it again next year! I’m happy to share snippets of our mini vacation with you!

I’m so glad to live in a place where there are Octobers.

— anne of green gables

xoxoxoxoxo

Jane is a lifestyle and portrait photographer covering southern Maine, New England, New Orleans and beyond. Contact Jane at jane@janeberger.com for more information.

family expansion | maine family photographer

July 19, 2017 janeberger

Last week you saw photos of my maternity session with Val. Well, it was really HER maternity session with me. Let’s just make that one clear…. 🙂 If you missed that post, then click }here{ It’s really sweet!

Val is the sweet wife of my awesome, handsome, smart, funny, kind and loving nephew Joe. They were married seven years ago (last week to be exact…) and are now expecting their second child — a girl! — and her name is Riley. How cute is that? Riley’s big brother, Cam, was on hand for the maternity session that was also a sweet family session with some heart-stopping father and son moments. We’re at Kettle Cove, on the beach, with a sunset. *sigh*

So feast your eyes on this wonderful family who I love with all my heart! They will soon be four, and we can’t wait!!

The love in our family grows strong and deep ~

leaving us memories to treasure and keep.

xoxoxoxoxo

Jane is a family, lifestyle and event photographer covering southern maine, new england, new orleans and beyond when the opportunity arises. For a session that stops a few moments in time, email jane at jane@janeberger.com.

a little life expected | maine maternity photographer

July 12, 2017July 13, 2017 janeberger

I’ll love you always.

Creating life is one of the most beautiful, most incredible, most extraordinary events to grace a person’s being and I sure love photographing it! My heart jumps at the honor of documenting such a special time in a person’s life, and when it’s Val, it’s pretty awesome! Val is very busy cooking up her 2nd baby (it’s a girl!) due this summer, and so she and her handsome husband and their happy-as-can-be little boy came up to Maine specifically for a styled maternity session with me. (Insert my squeal of delight here…)

After much discussion and preparation — the perfect-for-her dress (from Sew Trendy Accessories), the sweet floral crown (from Harmons), and some yummies with which to celebrate (from Whole Foods), we were ready on this beautiful early summer Saturday afternoon. We went to Kettle Cove in Cape Elizabeth … a place that, in my mind, offers everything a photographer could want (woods! beach! rocky coastline! sunset!) … OH! the beauty of it all! But nothing tops the beauty of Val … just look!

Right?? This post focuses on Val and her beautiful baby bump. Another post will be coming soon that shows off the entire family. In the meantime, enjoy the loveliness that is Val.

How long will I love you?

A second is too short. A second is no time for a love of this sort.

–Mark Sperring–

xoxoxoxoxo

Jane is a maternity and lifestyle photographer located in Portland, Maine, delighting in capturing love and laughter in Maine, New England, New Orleans and beyond whenever the opportunity arises!

If you’re interested in a styled session with Jane, contact her at jane@janeberger.com.

Taking a little time — Cape Cod Event Photographer

April 26, 2017 janeberger

If today were Tuesday, this would be a “turnback” post. If it were a Thursday, it would be a “throwback” post. But it’s Wednesday, and so perhaps we will take a little jaunt with Sherman in the wayback machine. These images are from last fall when I was on Cape Cod at the Chatham Bars Inn photographing an event for RE/MAX Integra of New England.

I mean, the Chatham Bars Inn! Have you been there? It’s quite lovely with cozy and spacious rooms that overlook the beach — the gorgeous beach that is even gorgeous out of season smack dab in the middle of fall. So that’s where I headed, with a few friends, very early in the morning, each of us with our camera in hand.

Now, when I photograph with other photographers, I want to be sure that I don’t copy them. However, at first I can’t help but watch what they’re doing (out of the corner or my eye, of course) — Where are they pointing their cameras? What are they seeing that I’m not seeing? Should I be photographing that too????? This particular morning was no different and I don’t mind saying that it took me a few minutes to find my own groove. It wasn’t until I remembered that when I changed my branding a few years ago, I also wanted to dedicate my camera to shooting what I love. Shoot what you love, Jane … that was very important to me and something that I had lost sight of for those first few minutes. I had to reach back and find that desire, and so I did.

Here’s what I saw that morning, and here’s what I focused on. The nice and unexpected surprise? Seeing the beautiful and colorful flowers on the way back in when it was light that we missed on the way out when it was dark. For me, that’s pure joy.

Enjoy.

Early one morning….

scenes at Chatham Bars Inn

pathway to beauty

dead stuff that’s pretty

beach grass

my friend Juan, a very talented photographer

first look at the harbor

beach grass — pretty no matter the time of year

moored boats off cape cod

early morning beach scene

peaceful, easy feeling

beach weeds

places to go and people top see…

cloudy skies and beach grass

bittersweet … both the bush and the fact that fall had arrived and winter was on the way

reminds me of summer, so delicate

pink roses so lovely

the best of fall flowers… hydrangeas

fall vegetation that I don’t know the names

the gorgeous blue hydrangea

silhouette of a tree

Happy Wednesday, y’all! Thanks for taking this little wayback journey with me.

xoxoxoxoxo

Jane is a lifestyle, portrait and event photographer who loves her personal shooting sprees. She focuses on capturing love and laughter in Maine, New England, New Orleans and beyond.

For more information, contact Jane at jane@janeberger.com.

Friday Favorites | Maine Lifestyle Photographer | Higgins Beach

April 15, 2016 janeberger

Beach Yoga Lifestyle Session

If you know this lovely woman, then I’m sure your world is just a little bit brighter than it might be otherwise. Lianna is a gem! She’s caring and generous, focused and ambitious, and a whole lotta fun! I met her when doing some volunteer photography for the Center for Grieving Children in Portland — a terrific organization. When she started doing yoga, I wanted to photograph her doing what she had grown to love — at sunrise.

Here are Lianna’s favorite images from this beach lifestyle session, and her own words.

Jane captured so much in this photo and may not even have realized it! Wheel pose is so uplifting, not only does it open your heart, but it helps to create a sense of emotional stability. The sun rising at just the right moment foreshadows the burst of energy that you feel throughout your body when you reach the peak of the posture.

sunburst yoga

Higgins Beach is such a special place to me. Filled with childhood memories and fun times with family during the summers. It especially reminds me of my late grandfather, who loved this beach more than anyone. During this photo, I remember looking up and thinking of Thomas Donahue with a smile. Such a special moment for me, and Jane captured that.

sending love

This sums up how I feel about my husband in a nutshell. I could scream it from the mountain tops everyday—but icing on the cake was a quick vertical jump that Jane caught brilliantly, while being surrounded by the sand, sun and ocean.

jumping for joy

My turn

Ha! Two of Lianna’s favorites are two of my favorites! Here are my choices, less the ones she already chose….

This moment of content sums up this early sunrise yoga session so nicely in one image. Solitude — we were alone on the beach. Beginnings — the sun was just coming up. Calmness — this quiet second of contemplation. And for me, the capture — camera at the ready; time stopped.

sunburst, sunflower

I really like this image! I like the strength represented in her shoulders, and her hand leading to the enormous ocean and world — full of possibilities and there for the taking.

within reach

I am in awe of what this image represents. First, the promise of a new day is pretty fantastic, is it not? And I don’t take nearly enough time to reflect, to ponder, to just be. This is a reminder to do just that. And when you practice this self caring on a beach? That’s pretty darn cool!

peace

Lifestyle sessions can take many forms, and this is just one. It’s those seemingly ordinary moments that make up this thing we call life. They aren’t so ordinary after all.

xoxoxoxoxo

As a Maine lifestyle photographer, I find such joy in making your ordinary extraordinary. Let’s talk! 207.730.1894.

Friday Favorites | cape elizabeth, maine engagement photographer

April 1, 2016 janeberger

Their favorites.

Nick and Heidi are transplants to the Portland area. She’s from Minnesota …. he’s from New York. So when they got engaged, they wanted to do their engagement session here and show their families back home their lovely adopted town. Heidi was happy to revisit the images from her fall session and as she told me, had a hard time choosing just three, which, of course, is music to my ears! In her words, “I starred my favorites … (in order if I realllllly have to, 5 seemed way easier to pick than 3!! 😉 ) And, since it was nearly impossible to just pick 3, I went with the strategy of picking 3 favorites based on 3 different aspects I liked about all our pictures. It was fun to have a reason to pour through all of them again!”

No. 1

heidi’s favorite pick

I love the lighting and colors in this picture, and that I can see our sincere smiles having so much fun that day exploring and taking pictures. Walking along the wooden pathway was so fun to just appreciate the fall colors along the coast, and the beautiful evening. It’s my favorite portrait-type picture of us.

No. 2

love in the old port

This one I love because it shows the town we now call home. Since we are both transplants to Portland, ME it was fun to take pictures in the old port to capture the personality of the cobblestone streets and brick buildings of this fun-loving ocean side town! I love how it has us centered in this beautiful street capturing some of Portland’s energy in the photograph. This was my favorite picture that captured a more scenic view.

No. 3

puppy love

Now, this picture may not have a whole lot of us in it, but, our dog Dobby is pretty much our favorite of all time & it was so fun to have him be a part of our engagement session-so I had to include it! He may have been over excited to be exploring new areas 95% of the session, but it was so fitting for us to have him along-plus look at that face. How could you not love it?!

My turn

Overall, I loved this session. We really split this session into three to get the full Maine experience. First, we found a location with beautiful foliage. Next, we went down the road a piece (that’s Mainespeak!) to Kettle Cove in Cape Elizabeth, and then a few days later we met in the Old Port. So much fun spending time with this couple!

Unlike Heidi, I don’t have a favorite. I have several. Her first selection is also one of my favorites, so I’m happy to have the chance to pick a few more! Here are mine in no particular order….

warming up

I love the warm feeling I get from this image. The setting sun gives it a beautiful golden glow, the blanket tells me they’re going to get cozy, and his arm on her back tells me he loves her. 🙂

the look of love

The happiness in this image takes my breath away. It’s a moment in time, captured. While it may not be the “save the date” choice — the happiness, the connection, the love — is clear.

save the date

I, too, am a sucker for four-legged furballs and chose this image for that reason. Dobby is clearly a huge part of their lives, so I especially like this one-big-happy-family portrait!

One more for the road ….

silhouette

Whenever the opportunity presents itself, I like to end a session with a silhouette. This evening didn’t disappoint.

xoxoxoxoxo

Jane loves engagement sessions! Capturing love and laughter is her specialty. Contact Jane at 207.730.1894 for information on a session for you!

Saco, Maine | Bayview Beach Family Photo Session

September 4, 2015October 6, 2015 janeberger

a beachy morning

For those of you who have sessions with me, you know that it is a necessity to work the session around the best light. That typically means either early morning or early evening into dusk when the sun is at a slant, providing the most glorious and flattering glow. Most people choose the early evening option … not that I blame them! But not this family! And I love it! This is the second time I’ve photographed this family in as many years, and both times were early morning sessions. This was so great for so many reasons ….. the light, as I mentioned above, is just lovely, and we had the beach virtually to ourselves except for a few other early morning beach lovers. We had the opportunity to run around, play, have fun, and capture some really great moments. The boys have grown for sure, but still have the same handsome smiles I remembered. They were full of energy, a little mischievous, and full of love for each other. I mean, look at their happy faces!

We were done by 8:00 a.m. So I snuck back for a few minutes of solitude. Breathe in. Breathe out. Aaaaahhhhhh.